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Buildings

St Hilda’s Pit head

St Hilda’s Pit Head marks an important chapter in South Shields’ history. It comprises a pumping station and winding house and is all that remains today of the large complex of original pit buildings, which were demolished after closure in 1940.

At a glance

  • Grade ll listed St Hilda’s Pit Head is all that remains of the once significant St Hilda’s Colliery. The colliery’s first shaft was sunk in 1822 by the Brandlings, a merchant family from Newcastle.
  • The terrible explosion at St Hilda’s Colliery in 1839, which killed 51 men, was the mine’s darkest day. However, the report written after the accident helped to raise the issue of miners’ safety and improve conditions in Britain’s mines, saving many thousands of lives.
  • The pit head comprises of winding and pump houses which survived the closure and clearance of the main pit in 1940, being used for ventilation and emergency access to neighbouring Westoe Colliery.
  • The pumping engine house was partly renovated in 1989 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the disaster.
  • The Trust and tenants work closely with the Harton and Westoe Miners’ Welfare group to share the site’s important history with the wider community.

1822 – 2024

History

The first shaft of St. Hilda’s Colliery was sunk in 1822 by the Brandlings, a wealthy family of merchants and coal owners from Newcastle whose lineage included knights and sheriffs!

Though the disaster at St Hilda’s colliery was also a watershed moment in the history of coal-mining, it wouldn’t be the Brandling’s first. The family also owned Felling Colliery which saw its own disaster in 1812 that killed 91 people. At the time, the dark tunnels that men and young boys were sent into to retrieve previous coal were illuminated by candlelight. With pockets of natural gas interspersed with the seams of coal, using candles was a risk that could not be properly calculated.

While this disaster did set in motion pressures to develop a safer way to light the mines, it would not be until 27 years later, and after the St Hilda’s Colliery disaster, that the use of naked flames to light mines was outlawed. Davy lamps had come into use between the Felling and St. Hilda’s disasters, but were only used where the coal was particularly ‘soft’.

The explosion occurred at 9AM on Friday 28th of June 1839. As well as candles, explosives were used to blast away the earth and rock to gain access to the coal. From the surface, smoke and small pieces of coal emerged from the furnace shaft as around 100 men and boys were working underground. The naked flames combined with the gases to cause an explosion that claimed 51 lives, mostly as a result of ‘afterdamp’, the mix of toxic gases following an explosion.

The disaster prompted a series of reports and investigations, including one by the Children’s Employment Commission, and ultimately lead to the abolition of candle use in mines. Children under 13 could still work in the mines until 1900 and remained in employed in the coal industry above ground for much longer.

In the years following the disaster, St. Hilda’s Colliery continued to be used until its closure in 1940. The same community spirit that drove the rescue mission during and the recovery from the disaster continued in the form of St. Hilda’s Colliery Band. St Hilda’s Colliery Band won the World Band Championships five times in 1912, 1920, 1921, 1924 & 1926 – in 1927, they were banned from competing as they were considered too professional!

After the closure of the colliery, some of the buildings were maintained and the shaft kept open to provide ventilation and another exit for the interlinked Westoe Colliery.

When Westoe Colliery was closed in 1993, the buildings were no longer maintained and fell into disrepair.

Dunston Staiths

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